Gamasutra - From Software Sold

Japanese media corporation Kadokawa today announced that it has acquired Dark Souls studio From Software, with the aim to take advantage of the company's worldwide influence.

From Software, which is also known for series like Armored Core and Tenchu, will now work alongside Kadokawa Games, the umbrella company's five-year-old video game subsidiary, and the two companies will assist each other when it comes to development and marketing. Kadokawa is a major Japanese publishing house with arms that reach far into the media business: books, magazines, film, animation, and comics.

In particular, Kadokawa says that [Japanese language PDF] it plans to expand to new game platforms, overseas markets and more digital platforms, through the production of new video game IP.

Kadokawa Games is best known for publishing titles like Lollipop Chainsaw and Killer is Dead in Japan. The studio also develops games, such as Demon Gaze, Natural Doctrine and The Kantai Collection.

— “ Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction.“ (E.F.Schumacher, Economist, Source)